Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-03-11
Scenes from the Cathedral Towers in
the City Of Mexico.

the City of Mexico.
Recently we paid mozo me-
dia (6l cts to admit us to the
twin towers of the great cathedral.
After a long climb up q narrow,
winding stairway we reached the
great bellfries, where forty eight
bells ring out during the hour of
vesper chimes. The largest Of
these is Santa Maria de Guadel-
oupa and is thirty six feet high,
and weighs $4,000 pounds. From
our position nearly 250 feet high,
we look down upon the site where
christian prayer and the sacra-
ment of penance have been offered
for more than three and a half
centuries, aud where heathen wor-
ship and human sacrifice were Of
fered for un-numbered centuries
before.
In the inches of the tower we
see the statute of the Virgin and
child, and in a little rockery near
by we see an Aztec God with up
lifted hands as If pleading for mer-
cy before the conquerors. In the
plaza we look down upon the
homely and the beautiful, the new
and the old, the cultured and un-
cultured. The thorn covered cac-
tus and the moss rose, are seen be-
meath the tall and wide spreading
palm. The beautiful and majes-
tic century plant is seen by the
side of the lofty banana. Near by
there are little caves, grottoes and
Intended little rocky wilds where
birds, bees and butterflies add to
the beauty of the tropical scene
among the wild flowers of the win
ter. The Aztec image is seen by
the side of the beautiful bronze
and marble statues.
In the evening hour we hear the
sound OF the Indians goose-quill-
whistle and his rattle gourds, max
ing discord to the music rendered
by the modern Mexican band
which our own people, not long
since, delighted to honor. At
night the red flame and smoke of
the tarred rope and the pine knot
are seen in the plaza with the cleo
trio light; and the flint, tow and
tinder box are used by the side of
the friction match.
Leaving the plaza we see the
brown stone hotel and the adobe
jacal, pronounced hacalD, and in
all parts OF the city we see human
beasts Of burden, while the horse
and steam cars are in general use.
On the east side of the plaza we
look down upon the National
Palace. 1t is the largest building
in the Republic and is capable of
lodging 10000 men. 1t also con-
tains all the principal offices Of
the government and numerous
court yards and flour gardens,
besides large livery stable and
several stock pens. To all exter-
nal appearances it would be mis-
taken for a penltentiary. The
doors are heavy, iroL bound struc-
lures and always guarded by SOL
diers. The windows are inclosed
by IRON gratings and the walls are
provided with sentry boxes and
loop hole for defense. The roof is
fiat and strong enough for an army
to maneuver upon it.
Looking over the city we look
down upon the towers and spires
of l26 Catholic churches, besides
various Protestant churches.
Many of the former have history
that will never be known. Among
these is the church of Santa Do
mingo of Inquisition fame. The
Profesa, wherein many of the ma
tion's wars had their origin. San
Fernando where we find the grave
of President Juarez, and also
those of Gems. Majia and Mirimon
the two men whom he had shot
with the Emperor Macmillan, the
three, though enemies in life, agree
quite well here together now.
Looking down upon the city we
see a number of beautiful plazas,
wide streets and a broad paseo OF
drive leading to the old castle of
Chapultepec, yet there are many
narrow filthy alleys where the poor
live in the lowest wretchedness.
The house tops are all fiat and
without chimnies, hence it is a
smokeless city. This feature
makes it appear like a deserted
city where the fires have all gone
out centuries ago.
This city is very compact and
without wooden houses. The houses
are without front yards or gardens
and all the land around the city is
yet common. An acre Of cultivat-
ed ground or a vegetable garden
is rarely seen in the suburbs. In
the entire valley of Mexico we can
hardly see wild tree or cult
yated field such as the soil and
climate would produce.